A Matter of Selection

Poems by Carol Smallwood

The Book

(Carol Smallwood's) greatest strengths lie in her own original content, and in that respect, A Matter of Selection soars
not only as a follow-up to her past collections, but also as an independent entry into the modern poetic landscape. Be it the
personal touches inside the profound, "The Universe," the sensory allusions of "A Chemo Visit," the domestic snapshots shaping "The
Sewing Box," or the startling social commentary beneath the short and simple "Examples," Smallwood ensures that just about every
piece is surprising, unique, and resonant. As such, A Matter of Selection is a tour-de-force illustration of the potentials
of poetry.

— Jordan Blum, founder, editor-in-chief, The Bookends Review

Carol Smallwood's poems harken back to evolution and she explores the complexities of the mind, at times with surrealism, and all
her work is both modern and poetry of depth and excellence.

— Mary Barnet, founder & editor-in-chief, PoetryMagazine.com

Carol Smallwood’s unabashed use of classical poetry forms for modern topics in her books makes her one of the boldest poets in
poetry, even in literature, right now.

— Evan Mantyk, president, The Society of Classical Poets

Formal and free verse poems flow seamlessly together, integrated into collections that magnify the specifics of our world yet then
pan out to connect the parts to the larger whole.

— Cristina Deptula, Synchronized Chaos Magazine

Carol Smallwood’s latest volume of poetry, A Matter of Selection, brings into sharp focus her vivid interest in both the natural world and probing observations of the daily—the quotidian mysteries present in any given life when we take time to notice and reflect upon all that we interact with in the course of a day... ( Full Review )